How to Calculate How Many Puffs in E-Liquid

Have you ever reached the middle of an e-liquid bottle and wondered how much longer it will last? Now, you’re guessing how many puffs you can expect from your e-liquid. Why does puff count matter so much? Knowing how to estimate puff count helps you to track your nicotine consumption, especially when you’re switching from smoking to vaping. It also allows you to vape smartly from an online vape store and get a better money value. 
Many new and experienced vapers wonder if there’s a clear way to calculate these numbers. But the truth is that it depends on various factors, including the type of device, personal vaping habits, and e-liquid strength. 
This blog explains everything about how many puffs are in an e-liquid and how to measure them accurately. Let’s get started without further ado!

What is a Puff Count? Why Does It Matter?

A puff count is an estimate of how many individual puffs you can take from a vape device or a specific amount of e-juice.

The number of puffs helps users estimate how long their liquids or prefilled kits will last, depending on their vaping style and device type. It can also help you to control nicotine intake and avoid overuse throughout the day. Many switchers estimate puffs to manage nicotine cravings. Experienced vapers use puff data to optimise wattage, coil life, and e-liquid consumption. 

How Many Puffs Are in a Bottle of E-liquid?

The number of puffs you get from an e-juice bottle depends on the volume you take per puff. Here’s the rough estimate:

10ml Bottle (Nicotine Salt)

• MTL Devices: ~250–300 puffs × 10ml = 2,500–3,000 puffs
• DTL Vapes: ~100–150 puffs × 10ml = 1,000–1,500 puffs

50ml E-liquid (Shortfill)

• MTL Devices: ~250–300 puffs × 50ml = 12,500–15,000 puffs
• DTL Vapes: ~100–150 puffs × 50ml = 5,000–7,500 puffs

100ml E-liquid (Shortfill)

• MTL Devices: ~250–300 puffs × 100ml = 25,000–30,000 puffs
• DTL Vapes: ~100–150 puffs × 100ml = 10,000–15,000 puffs

Remember, these numbers are approximate, the actual puff count can vary depending on your device, puff duration, and vaping habits.

For more technical users, this calculation offers greater accuracy:

(Total ml × 1000) ÷ puff volume (mg) = estimated puffs

If your device consumes around 6mg of liquid per puff, a 2ml tank would offer approximately 333 puffs. This method requires knowledge of your device’s puff volume, which varies widely.

Number of Puffs Per ML

Key Factors That Change Puff Count

Several factors influence puff count. Some relate to the device, others to the liquid, and many depend entirely on personal behaviour. Understanding these variables will help you calculate more accurate numbers for your specific setup.

Device Type: MTL vs DTL

The biggest factor is how your device is designed to be used:

• MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) devices produce small, controlled vapour clouds. They are the most optimal systems and offer the highest puff counts per millilitre.
  
• DTL (Direct-to-Lung) devices use higher wattage and produce large clouds. They burn through liquid quickly and give fewer puffs.

MTL devices include pod kits, simple refillable pen devices, and many prefilled kits. DTL devices include high-powered sub-ohm mods paired with low-resistance coils.

To explore more about vapes, give a read to our blog on different types of vaping devices!

Power, Wattage, and Coil Resistance

Wattage determines how quickly your device heats the vape coil. High wattage vaporises more liquid with each inhale and dramatically reduces puff count. For example:

• A sub-ohm tank running at 60 watts may consume 1 ml of liquid in 50–80 puffs.
  
• A pod kit at 12 watts may deliver 300 puffs from the same amount.

Coil resistance impacts vapour production. Low-resistance coils produce more vapour and therefore use more liquid. High-resistance coils run cooler, use less liquid, and extend puff count.

Puff Duration 

Some users take quick, shallow puffs. Others take long, deep inhalations. This difference alone can double or halve your puff count. Manufacturers usually test with a puff duration of around 2 seconds, but many vapers naturally exceed this.

Puff Volume

Puff volume, which refers to how much vapour your lungs draw, also varies. A long DTL puff pulls significantly more vapour than a short MTL draw, making puff numbers inconsistent between individuals.

Personal Behaviour

Every vaper has unique habits. Chain vaping empties tanks quickly. Slow vaping with duration extends the life of your vape juice. Your chosen nicotine strength also changes your behaviour. 

E-Liquid Composition

E-liquid comes in different VG/PG ratios:

• High VG (e.g., 70/30) produces thick clouds and uses more liquid.
  
• High PG liquids deliver a stronger throat hit and reduce consumption.
  
• Nicotine salts absorb faster and usually satisfy nicotine needs with fewer puffs.
  
• Freebase nicotine liquid provides a slower hit and may require more frequent inhalations.

These differences influence puff behaviour and overall consumption.

How Nicotine Strength Affects the Number of Puffs?

Nicotine strength changes how many puffs a user takes, even though it does not alter the liquid’s physical puff-per-ml capacity. 

• Higher strengths (18–20mg) often reduce puff frequency, because users reach satisfaction faster. 
  
• Medium strengths (10–12mg) usually maintain a moderate pattern and may reduce puff count.
  
• Lower strengths (3–6 mg) generally increase puff frequency and can raise total daily puffs due to weaker nicotine delivery. 
  
• At very low strengths (0–3mg), users may double their puff intake, increasing consumption compared to high-strength salts.

To better understand how much nicotine you’re consuming per puff, here’s the general formula:

Nicotine Strength / Number of Puffs

Let’s say you have purchased a 10ml vape liquid bottle in 20mg nicotine strength that becomes 200mg/ml in total. If you get approximately 3000 puffs from that bottle, then:

200mg / 300 puffs = 0.06mg nicotine per puff 

How Many Vape Puffs in One Cigarette?

Users who are transitioning from smoking want to know how many puffs are in a cigarette. For most smokers, one cigarette usually requires 10-15 puffs. 

Conclusion

Understanding puff count helps every vaper make smarter decisions about devices, e-liquids, and daily vaping habits. It gives you a clear sense of how long your liquid will last. How much you’re consuming, and which setup best matches your needs. Generally, a 10ml vape juice bottle lasts around 3000 puffs, depending on your vaping habits. 

Buy Your Perfect Vape Now!

Ready to explore high-quality, UK-compliant vaping products that match your puff needs? Browse our latest pods, big puff vapes, and e-liquids today and find the perfect fit for your lifestyle. You can also explore our vape deals section, which offers a better value. 
If you’re new to vaping and want to know everything about e-cigarettes and other vaping accessories, check out our vape guides and blogs section.